I am 36 and going through it. Feeling a little down that it hit earlier than I thought it would. I was wondering if anyone else is also going through perimenopause. What your symptoms are and how you treat (if you treat) them.

I'm a little bummed out with my doctor. When I asked what I could do for my pretty bad mood swings, 2 periods a month some months, and crazy PMS symptoms I was told I could do the pill, or prozac. I was like, Um, no thank you. I don't want to do hormones, and hate the idea of prozac if I don't really need it (saved my life when I had postpartum, but I am only crazy bisque-y now, not suicidal).

i'm trying to just keep cool about it but i'm not happy. wish i had some resources to share, but i don't. my mother doesn't talk about it at all but i gather she was young when she went through "the change". i will watch this thread too.

I'm 39 and thought I was post menopausal having had only 2 periods in 3 years, and more than a year since the last, but have had 4 in a row just this last while so I guess I'm still peri. All the above, except I am taking more calcium. I refuse to have any more hormonal stuff as I respond very poorly to it, I tried all the supposed low dose, and "safe" options and in the end my Dr basically said "Decide if it is worse on or off the meds" I decided it was worse on them, so that is it. Body do your stuff.There is a site for premature menopause a friend put me on to but I can't remember. I think if you google premature menopause message boards you could find it, and I will ask my friend again.

I turn 40 in March. I think I am joining the perimenopausal club. My periods have been unpredictable, eg several 18/19 day periods, then 35 days etc, when I used to be very regular at 27-28 days. Got hair growth. Moody. Fun.

_________________Formerly known as Eucalypt.Live in Brisbane, which got a casino and was nicknamed Brisvegas. Vegan from Brisvegas + bit too fond of puns = BrisVegan.

Santa whips his reindeer and broke the elves' UTM local back in 86. fork that guy! - Imitation of Chris

_________________No. No. fork life allatimes. - mumblesThat commercial didn't make me want to go out and buy Dove, but this thread did make me sniff my armpits. They smell like apricot. - designedtobekind

I'm going through some weird stuff too, a random day of a period when I least expect it, getting my feelings hurt easily, mood swings, etc. I don't have any advice but it's good to know others are going through the same thing!!

35 and going through it for a couple years now. Like Doc Apricot, it happens early in my family and in the last few years, since I went of birth control pills and got my IUD, I've been able to notice symptoms. The hot flashes are the worst, but they're fairly rare. I try to deal with the emotional swings with CBT and tricks I've learned over the years from therapy for anxiety and depression, the insomnia with occasional valerian, and the complete randomness of my cycle by carrying my cup at ALL times. I am trying to eat well and exercise, and I want to get through it all with no meds and no artificial hormones, but I'll have to see how it all works out.

you know, i hadn't thought about hot flashes- i have flushing that i blame on my rosacea, but it could be hot flashes too. who knows.also, random guerilla attack period. BAM, it's here, and within 18 hours it's over. No decreases in volume, either. I suppose it's better than a period lasting for 5 days but damn, it's intense.

Yup. I'm 47 and I've been in peri for about 8 years now. It started with hot flashes and night sweats, but now, for the past 2 years, my cycle is screwy. The norm for me used to be 4 days. Now, I'm anywhere from 7-14 days and most of those days are extrememly heavy flow. My Gyn even did an endometrial biopsy to rule out cancer..that's how bad it was. The only other option she gave me was a low dose birth control pill. No thanks. I'll deal with it.

My mother swore by this recipe (about halfway down the page) to get her through her symptoms - http://www.articlealley.com/article_131276_28.htmlThe articles I've read on it state it can take about a month for it to start having any noticeable effect but some medications take the same amount of time. It's called the Linda Kearns cake.